William Burke | Associate Director Planning, California Veterinary Emergency Team (CVET)
UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine

Will Burke serves as the Associate Director of Planning for the California Veterinary Emergency Team (CVET) within the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. In this role, he leads preparedness outreach and response planning for veterinary disaster response across California. His work focuses on bridging veterinary medicine, public health, and emergency management to strengthen community resilience during disasters. Burke is an Emergency Medical Technician and Certified Emergency Manager. He received a Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology and Disaster Management from the University of Georgia in 2021. His career spans field deployments to major incidents such as the 2024 Park Fire, development of urban and rural emergency operations plans, and advocacy for One Health principles.

Appearances:

Day 1 @ 10:00

An innovative model for veterinary disaster response

Disasters are increasing in scale and frequency. Gaps in access to veterinary care and veterinary professional shortages also create a disaster of their own. When those two problems intersect, communities and families with pets and livestock are devastated. The California Veterinary Emergency Team (CVET) is a pioneering disaster response program. Based at the University of California, Davis’ School of Veterinary Medicine, CVET’s mission is to lead collaborative veterinary response during disasters. This session will explore the challenges of disaster preparedness and response for animals across California. Additionally, the talk will highlight real-world examples of outreach, planning, and exercises that strengthen community resilience and mitigate common challenges. Finally, presentation will include insight into CVET’s innovative model of an established, scalable approach for delivering coordinated veterinary care during emergencies.

William Burke, Associate Director Planning, California Veterinary Emergency Team (CVET), UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine

last published: 07/Nov/25 05:05 GMT

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